Date: 31st October, 2021
2 November 2021 – statement from Deputy Chief Inspector Andrew Hall, Rail Accident Investigation Branch
A team of RAIB inspectors arrived on site on Sunday evening and were joined yesterday by additional inspectors and our support team. We are working alongside partner organisations including the Office of Rail and Road and BTP. Our investigation is progressing well.
Yesterday our focus was on evidence retrieval, we have been working with Police scene examiners to look the train. We have also undertaken a close examination of the track and signalling in the area and started to talk to those involved. Analysis of downloads from the trains’ data recorders, electronic data from the signalling system and CCTV imagery is ongoing.
From the initial evidence we have collected, we know that that the passage of the Great Western train travelling from Basingstoke across Salisbury Tunnel Junction was being protected by a red signal. At this junction, trains coming from Eastleigh merge with those from Basingstoke, so the South Western service coming from Eastleigh was required to stop at that signal.
Unfortunately, it did not stop and struck the side of the Great Western train at an angle such that both trains derailed and ran alongside each other into the tunnel just beyond the junction.
Initial evidence indicates that the South Western train driver applied the brakes as it approached the junction and the red signal, but the train was unable to stop before passing the signal.
This evidence suggests that the most likely cause of this was wheelslide, almost certainly a result of low adhesion between the wheels and the track. We are continuing to pursue this as a line of investigation amongst others.
In consultation with other parties, we continue to work with the railway recovery engineers to ensure that the site is handed back in the shortest time possible. We intend to begin releasing parts of the site back to Network Rail later today.
Later this week we’ll be releasing the initial findings of the investigation, these will be publicly available on our website.
The full report will be published in due course.
1 November 2021, 1pm – statement from British Transport Police, Superintendent Lisa Garrett
British Transport Police detectives have begun an investigation into a train collision in Salisbury, Wiltshire last night (31 October).
At around 6.45pm, a Great Western Railway service from Southampton to Cardiff collided with a South Western Railway service from London to Honiton as they both entered the Fisherton Tunnel in Salisbury. Both trains were travelling in the same direction and one train struck the side of the other, causing it to derail whilst in the tunnel. The front few carriages remained upright while the back tipped on their side.
92 passengers were on both train services. Around thirty people attended a casualty centre which was set up in a nearby church, the majority of who were walking wounded and assessed at the scene. Fourteen people were taken to hospital by ambulance where they have received treatment for minor injuries. Two remain there this morning.
Unfortunately, the driver of the train was more seriously injured and his injuries are believed to be life-changing. He remains in hospital in a stable condition this morning, and his family have been informed.
We have now moved out of the rescue phase of the operation and into the investigation which will involve the trains remaining in situ for some time. The investigation remains at an early stage but a senior detective has been appointed to lead the enquiries as we work to establish the full circumstances of how this incident came to happen.
This will no doubt have been an incredibly frightening experience for all those involved and our thoughts are with them and their families today.
Specialist officers and detectives remain on scene in Salisbury and we are working closely alongside the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and the Office of Rail and Road to establish exactly how these two trains came to collide.
We are keeping an open mind but at this early stage there has been nothing to suggest the train struck an object or that there was any significant delay between the trains colliding and then one derailing.
This has been a large scale, multi-agency operation and I would like to pay particular to thanks to our emergency service colleagues for their efforts in safely evacuating passengers, and to the many members of the local community who reached out with offers of help.
31 October 2021, 11.30pm – Statement from ACFO Andy Cole
Firefighters from Dorset & Wiltshire and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service have been on scene this evening dealing with the train crash this evening.
We have carried out a thorough search of all train carriages. We have assisted in the evacuation of approximately 100 people. We do not believe there to be any further casualties on board the train and there are no fatalities.
We will shortly be scaling down our response, however we will have resources on scene for the next few hours.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the local community for their support this evening as this incident has unfolded.
31 October 2021, 11.30pm – Statement from British Transport Police, Inspector Mullah Hoque
We were called to Fisherton Tunnel in Salisbury at 6.46pm tonight following reports of a train derailment which involved two passenger trains colliding.
Officers are continuing to respond to the incident alongside our emergency service colleagues and the line is expected to be shut for some time.
Thankfully there have been no fatalities however a number of people have been injured and a casualty centre has been opened at a nearby church. Most of these people are walking wounded however a small number, including the driver, have been taken to hospital where their injuries are being assessed.
A major incident has been declared and this has been a large scale, multi-agency response working closely alongside our colleagues in Wiltshire. We will remain on scene throughout the night working to establish the full circumstances of how this incident came to happen.
31 October 2021, 11pm
Over 50 firefighters were involved in helping passengers on two trains which collided in Salisbury last night (31 October).
After receiving the 999 call at 6.58pm, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service sent crews from Salisbury (x2), Wilton, Amesbury and Tisbury, supported by an incident command vehicle from Devizes and a heavy rescue unit from Trowbridge; Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service sent crews from Andover, Redbridge and Stockbridge, together with a heavy rescue unit from Redbridge.
Two passenger trains were located in the Fisherton tunnel, off St Mark’s Avenue; one had derailed and was on its side.
Firefighters carried out a thorough search of all train carriages and assisted in the evacuation of approximately 100 people, working with colleagues from other agencies, including South Western Ambulance Service, Wiltshire Police, British Transport Police and Wiltshire Council.
This was declared a major incident in its early stages, but this was stood down before 10pm. All fire and rescue service resources had left the scene by 11pm.
31 October 2021, 8.15pm
We are currently at the scene of a train crash near St Marks Avenue, Salisbury. Approx 50 firefighters from both Dorset & Wilshire FRS and Hampshire FRS are working with partners from Wiltshire Police, South Western Ambulance Service and Network Rail at this major incident. We will update as soon as we have more information.